Adapter and methods for coupling an ultrasonic surgical handpiece to a control console

ABSTRACT

An adapter configured to receive a drive signal from a control console and to provide the drive signal to an ultrasonic surgical handpiece. The adapter includes a receptacle for receiving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece and providing the drive signal to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece. The adapter includes a module for detecting a presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece and a connector to be inserted into a receptacle of the control console to receive the drive signal from the control console. The adapter includes a radio-frequency identification device coupled to the connector and to a memory storing a maximum and minimum frequency for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece. The radio-frequency identification device transmits the maximum and minimum frequency from the memory to the control console via the connector using an RFID protocol in response to the module detecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of pending U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/840,786, filed on Apr. 30, 2019, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Ultrasonic surgical systems are useful for performing certain medicaland surgical procedures. Ultrasonic surgical systems may includemultiple components, such as an ultrasonic surgical handpiece and acontrol console. Typically, each control console is configured toprovide a drive signal to a certain type of ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece. This results in a need for many different consoles, and manydifferent end effectors. As such, there remains a need to eliminate thenumber of different devices in the operating room.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An adapter configured to receive a drive signal from a control consoleand to provide the drive signal to an ultrasonic surgical handpiece isprovided. The adapter includes a receptacle configured to receive theultrasonic surgical handpiece and provide the drive signal to theultrasonic surgical handpiece. The adapter also includes a connectorconfigured to be inserted into a receptacle of the control console,wherein the connector is configured to receive the drive signal from thecontrol console when the connector is coupled to the control console.Additionally, the adapter includes a radio-frequency identificationemulator coupled to the connector, wherein the radio-frequencyidentification emulator is coupled to a memory storing a maximum andminimum frequency for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece, theradio-frequency identification emulator being configured to transmit themaximum and minimum frequency from the memory to the control console viathe connector using an RFID protocol.

A method of operating a system for providing a drive signal to anultrasonic surgical handpiece is provided. The system includes theultrasonic surgical handpiece, a control console, and an adapter. Themethod includes steps of coupling the adapter to the control console viaa connector and coupling the adapter to the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece. The method also includes a step of detecting, by a module ofthe adapter, a presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.Additionally, the method includes a step of transmitting, by aradio-frequency identification emulator of the adapter, a maximum andminimum frequency for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece to thecontrol console via the connector using an RFID protocol in response tothe module detecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.The method also includes steps of generating, by the control console,the drive signal based on the maximum and minimum frequency for drivingthe ultrasonic surgical handpiece and receiving, by the adapter, thedrive signal from the control console via the connector. Furthermore,the method includes a step of providing, by the adapter, the drivesignal to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, exemplary illustrations are shown indetail. Although the drawings represent examples, the drawings are notnecessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated orschematic in form to better illustrate and explain a particular aspectof an illustrative example. Any one or more of these aspects can be usedalone or in combination with one another. Further, the exemplaryillustrations described herein are not intended to be exhaustive orotherwise limiting or restricting to the precise form and configurationshown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detaileddescription. Exemplary illustrations are described in detail byreferring to the drawings as follows:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an ultrasonic surgical system forproviding a drive signal to an ultrasonic surgical handpiece from acontrol console via an adapter.

FIG. 1B is a schematic view of the ultrasonic surgical system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a module of the adapter and the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the module of the adapter and a firsttype of ultrasonic surgical handpiece.

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the module of the adapter and a secondtype of ultrasonic surgical handpiece.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views of the ultrasonic surgical system,wherein a memory of the adapter is further illustrated.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the adapter and the controlconsole.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram of a method of operating the ultrasonicsurgical system.

FIG. 7B is a block diagram of steps of detecting a presence of theultrasonic surgical handpiece.

FIG. 7C is a block diagram of steps of identifying an ultrasonicsurgical handpiece.

FIG. 7D is a block diagram of steps of transmitting operational data ofthe ultrasonic surgical handpiece to the control console.

FIG. 7E is a block diagram of steps of transmitting identification dataof the ultrasonic surgical handpiece to the control console.

FIG. 7F is a block diagram of steps of receiving direct current (DC)power by the adapter.

FIG. 7G is a block diagram of steps of receiving alternating current(AC) power by the adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1A, an adapter 10 is shown. The adapter 10 isconfigured to receive a drive signal 12 (shown in FIG. 1B) from acontrol console 14 and is also configured to provide the drive signal 12to an ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. As shown in FIG. 1A, anultrasonic surgical system 18 for providing the drive signal 12 to theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 includes the adapter 10, the controlconsole 14, and the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.

The adapter 10 includes a connector 20 configured to be coupled to thecontrol console 14. In the instance of FIG. 1A, the connector 20 isinserted into a receptacle 22 of the control console 14. As such, theadapter 10 is configured to receive the drive signal from the controlconsole 14 via the connector 20 when the connector 20 is coupled to thecontrol console 14.

The adapter 10 also includes a receptacle 24 configured to be coupled tothe ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. For example, in the instance ofFIG. 1A, the receptacle 24 receives a connector 26 of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16. As such, the adapter 10 is configured to providethe drive signal 12 to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 via thereceptacle 24.

The control console 14 may be any suitable control console 14 forgenerating an alternating current (AC) drive signal as the drive signal12 for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. For example, in theinstance of FIG. 1A, the control console 14 includes the receptacle 22,such that the adapter 10 receives the drive signal 12 from the controlconsole 14 via the connector 20 when the connector 20 is coupled to thereceptacle 22. Additionally, the control console 14 may include adisplay 28 configured to display information related to the controlconsole 14, the adapter 10, and/or the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.Referring to FIG. 6, the control console 14 may also include a powersupply receptacle 30 configured to couple to a power supply (not shown),and a USB port 32 configured to receive a USB connector 88.

Certain components and characteristics of the control console 14 arefurther described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,016,209 B2, entitled “System andMethod for Driving an Ultrasonic Handpiece as a Function of theMechanical Impedance of the Handpiece,” the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The control console 14may also be further described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,449,570 B2, entitled“System and Method for Driving an Ultrasonic Handpiece with a LinearAmplifier,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

The ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 may be any suitable surgicalhandpiece that may be driven by an AC drive signal. For example, in theinstance of FIG. 1A, the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 includes aproximal end 34 and a distal end 36. (“Proximal” is understood to meantowards the practitioner holding the handpiece, away from the site towhich the handpiece is applied. “Distal” is understood to mean away fromthe practitioner, towards the site to which the handpiece is applied.)The ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 may also include one or morevibrating piezoelectric drivers 38 (three shown), which are formed frommaterial that, when a current (such as a current from the drive signal12) is applied to the drivers 38, undergoes a momentary expansion orcontraction. Furthermore, the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 includesa tip 40, which may be used in a variety of soft-tissue or bonemodifying applications. The ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 may alsoinclude a sleeve 42, which may provide suction and/or irrigation at alocation adjacent to the tip 40. Additionally, the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16 may include a memory (not shown), which includes datadescribing the characteristics of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.The data describing characteristics of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece16 may include data that identifies the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16and/or data that describes characteristics of the drive signal 12 thatcan be applied to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.

Components and characteristics of one exemplary ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16 are further described, and referred to as “the handpiece”,in U.S. Pat. No. 10,016,209 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 10,449,570 B2, and PCTInternational Application No. PCT/M2020/050314, which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety. The ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16 may be an ultrasonic shear device, an ultrasonic aspirator,or an ultrasonic tissue sealer.

The drive signal 12 generated by the control console 14 may be a varietyof AC drive signals suitable for driving the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16. After the drive signal 12 is received by the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16, the drive signal 12 is applied to the drivers 38.The application of the drive signal 12 causes the drivers 38 tosimultaneously and cyclically expand and contract. Consequently, the tip40 begins to vibrate for use in soft-tissue or bone modifyingapplications.

Additionally, the control console 14 may modify the drive signal 12based on the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. For example, eachultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 may include preferences for efficientoperation, such as a maximum voltage, a maximum current, and/or amaximum frequency for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. Thecontrol console 14 provides the drive signal 12 based on a capacitanceof the drivers 38, a maximum current of the drive signal 12, a maximumvoltage of the drive signal 12, and/or a maximum and minimum frequencyof the drive signal 12, all of which may be stored in the memory of thesurgical handpiece 16.

In a further instance, the control console 14 may provide the drivesignal 12 at a certain frequency to ensure efficient operation of theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. For example, one means of ensuring theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 operates efficiently is for the controlconsole 14 to provide the drive signal 12 at a resonant frequency of theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. When the drive signal 12 is providedat the resonant frequency and at a given voltage, the drive signal 12induces vibrations in the tip 40 at a relatively large amplitude incomparison to the vibrations induced by a drive signal 12 with the samevoltage, but at a frequency that is off-resonance. As described, theresonant frequency of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 may be afunction of mechanical components of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece16, such as the piezoelectric drivers 38, the tip 40, and othermechanical components described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,016,209 B2.Therefore, after the control console 14 determines the resonantfrequency based on the mechanical components, the control console 14continually provides the drive signal 12 at the resonant frequencydespite changes to the mechanical components.

The control console 14, using a frequency regulating algorithm,continually provides the drive signal 12 to the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16 at the resonance frequency despite changes to themechanical components of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. Thefrequency regulating algorithm allows the control console 14 to providethe drive signal 12 at a desired frequency and at a desired voltage bycontrolling a set frequency and a set voltage in a control loop. Forinstance, if the control console 14 detects a change in an impedance ofthe piezoelectric drivers 38 or the tip 40, the control console 14 maymodify a magnitude of the set voltage or the set frequency to accountfor the change in the mechanical components. As such, by modifying theset voltage and the set frequency, the control console 14 continues toprovide the drive signal 12 at the resonant frequency. This reduces theneed for surgical personnel to have to continuously adjust the drivesignal 12 to ensure that the tip 40 continuously vibrates at theresonant frequency.

The adapter 10 allows the control console 14 to provide the drive signal12 to a variety of different types of ultrasonic surgical handpieces 16using the frequency regulating algorithm. As described, the frequencyregulating algorithm advantageously reduces the need for surgicalpersonnel to have to continuously adjust the drive signal 12. Theadapter 10 allows this advantage to be realized for ultrasonic surgicalhandpieces 16 that are not configured to couple to the control console14 and/or ultrasonic surgical handpieces 16 to which the control console14 is not configured to provide the drive signal 12. For example, theadapter 10 may allow the control console 14 to provide the drive signal12 to ultrasonic surgical handpieces 16 from a manufacturer notsupported by the control console 14 and/or to a future or legacyultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.

The adapter 10 is further shown in FIG. 1B. As shown, the adapter 10includes a module 44, which is configured to detect a presence of theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 when the ultrasonic surgical handpiece16 is coupled to the control console 14. The module 44 configured todetect the presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 may beoptionally included or omitted from the adapter 10.

The module 44 is configured to detect the presence of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16 when the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 iscoupled to the control console 14. In the instance shown in FIG. 2, themodule 44 includes a circuit 52, which includes an input voltage V_(in)of 10V and an output voltage V_(out). The circuit 52 includes an opencircuit 54 configured to receive an electrical component 56 of theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 when the ultrasonic surgical handpiece16 is coupled to the adapter 10. In FIG. 2, the electrical component 56of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 is a short circuit 58. As shown,after the short circuit 58 of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 isreceived by the open circuit 54 (e.g., when the connector 26 of theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 is coupled to the receptacle 24 of theadapter 10), the circuit 52 is completed and the output voltage V_(out)switches from 0V to 10V. Accordingly, the module 44 transmits ahandpiece presence signal 60 (shown in FIG. 1B) corresponding to theoutput voltage V_(out) to a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device(shown as an RFID emulator 46 in FIG. 1B). In other instances, theelectrical component 56 of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 mayinclude components other than a short circuit. For example, theelectrical component of the surgical handpiece 16 may be: an activecomponent, such as, but not limited to, a transistor, a diode, and/or apower source; a passive component, such as, but not limited to, aresistor, a capacitor, and/or an inductor; an electromechanicalcomponent, such as, but not limited to, a switch, a resettable fuse, arelay, and/or a connector; or combinations thereof. Additionally, themodule 44 may transmit the handpiece presence signal 60 to the controlconsole 14.

The adapter 10 also includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID)device, shown as the radio-frequency identification (RFID) emulator 46.The RFID emulator 46 is coupled to a memory 48 and to the connector 20.The memory 48 may include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory(RAM), flash memory, EEPROM, non-volatile random access memory (NOVRAM),or any other suitable form of memory. In the instance shown in FIG. 1B,the adapter 10 includes the memory 48. However, in other instances, thememory 48 may be alternatively or additionally found in the surgicalhandpiece 16. One exemplary RFID emulator may be found in U.S. Pat. No.10,061,948 B2, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

In the instance of FIG. 1B, the memory 48 stores a maximum and minimumfrequency 50 for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. As such,the RFID emulator 46 is configured to transmit the maximum and minimumfrequency 50 from the memory 48 to the control console 14 via theconnector 20 using an RFID protocol. In instances where the adapter 10includes the module 44, the RFID emulator 46 may transmit the maximumand minimum frequency 50 in response to the module 44 detecting thepresence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. The control console 14may then generate the drive signal 12 based on the maximum and/orminimum frequency 50 pertaining to the connected ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16 such that the adapter 10 may receive the drive signal 12from the control console 14 and provide the drive signal 12 to theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.

The module 44 may also be configured to identify the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16. In the instances shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the module 44includes the circuit 52, which includes the input voltage V_(in), theoutput voltage V_(out), and the open circuit 54. Furthermore, in FIGS.3A and 3B, the ultrasonic surgical handpieces 16 are a 25 kHz ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16′ and a 34 kHz ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16″,respectively, with “25 kHz” and “34 kHz” corresponding to a frequency ofoperation of the respective ultrasonic surgical handpieces 16′, 16″.Accordingly, the open circuit 54 is configured to receive the electricalcomponent 56′ of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16′ and theelectrical component 56″ of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16″. Themodule 44 then determines the identity of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16 as the 25 kHz ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16′ or the 34kHz ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16″ based on the open circuit 54receiving the electrical component 56′ or 56″. For example, in FIG. 3A,the 25 kHz ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16′ includes a 1 kΩ resistor 62as the electrical component 56′. Likewise, in FIG. 3B, the 34 kHzultrasonic surgical handpiece 16″ includes a 10 kΩ resistor 64 as theelectrical component 56″. As shown, after the electrical component 56′or 56″ is received by the open circuit 54 (e.g., when the connector 26of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16′, 16″ is coupled to thereceptacle 24 of the adapter 10), the output voltage V_(out) switchesfrom 0V to 8.72V or 4.04V. Accordingly, the module 44 transmits ahandpiece identification signal 66 (shown in FIG. 1B) corresponding tothe output voltage V_(out) to the RFID emulator 46. In other instances,the electrical components 56′, 56″ of the ultrasonic surgical handpieces16′, 16″ may include other active, passive, or electromechanicalcomponents. Additionally, the module 44 may transmit the handpieceidentification signal 66 to the control console 14.

As disclosed herein, it should be understood that, in instances wherethe module 44 is configured to identify the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16, the module 44 determines the presence of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16 by identifying the ultrasonic surgical handpiece16. In other words, by identifying the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16,the module 44 is detecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16. Therefore, in instances where a component of theultrasonic surgical system 18 is configured to act “in response todetecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16,” thecomponent of the ultrasonic surgical system 18 may also be configured toact in response to identifying the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.

In various instances, the module 44 may include any suitable combinationof software and hardware components for detecting the presence of theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 or identifying the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16. For example, in FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B the module 44 includesa hardware component, the circuit 52, configured to receive theelectrical components 56, 56′, 56″ of the ultrasonic surgical handpieces16, 16′, 16″. The module 44 in FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B also includessoftware components configured to determine the presence or the identityof the ultrasonic surgical handpieces 16, 16′, 16″ and to transmit thehandpiece presence signal 60 or the handpiece identification signal 66accordingly. In other instances, the module 44 may include a differentcombination of software and hardware components for detecting thepresence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 or identifying theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, the RFID emulator 46 is configured to transmit themaximum and minimum frequency 50 from the memory 48 to the controlconsole 14 via the connector 20 using an RFID protocol in response tothe module 44 detecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16. As shown, the RFID emulator 46 may be coupled to a memory48, which includes data describing the characteristics of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16. For instance, in FIG. 4, the memory includesoperational data 68 and identification data 70 of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16. The operational data 68 include a maximum andminimum frequency 50 of the drive signal 12, a maximum current 72 of thedrive signal 12, a maximum voltage 74 of the drive signal 12, and/or acapacitance 76 of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. Theidentification data includes a product name 78 of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16 (e.g., “Ultrasonic Surgical Handpiece for OR1”)and/or a serial number (e.g. “8809-01”), and a type 80 of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16 (e.g., “25 kHz Ultrasonic Aspirator”). In FIG. 4,after receiving the handpiece presence signal 60, the RFID emulator 46transmits the maximum and minimum frequency 50 and/or the maximumcurrent 72 of the drive signal 12 from the memory 48 to the controlconsole 14. However, in other instances, the RFID emulator 46 maytransmit any data stored in the memory 48 to the control console 14. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 4, the RFID emulator 46 may also transmit theproduct name 78 of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 from the memory48 to the control console 14 for display on the display 28 (as shown inFIG. 1A). Additionally, the memory 48 may include any other suitabledata, such as usage data of the surgical handpiece 16.

Referring to FIG. 5, the RFID emulator 46 is configured to transmit themaximum and minimum frequency 50 from the memory 48 to the controlconsole 14 via the connector 20 using an RFID protocol in response tothe module 44 identifying the presence of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16. In this instance, the memory 48 includes datacorresponding to a variety of characteristics of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16. For example, in FIG. 5, the memory 48 includes data 82corresponding to the characteristics of 25 kHz ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16′ and data 84 corresponding to the characteristics of 34 kHzultrasonic surgical handpiece 16″. Each of the data 82 and 84 includesoperational data 68′, 68″ and identification data 70′, 70″ of therespective handpieces 16′, 16″. The operational data 68′, 68″ include amaximum and minimum frequency 50′, 50″ of the drive signal 12, a maximumcurrent 72′, 72″ of the drive signal 12, a maximum voltage 74′, 74″ ofthe drive signal 12, and a capacitance 76′, 76″ of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16. The identification data 70′, 70″ include aproduct name 78′, 78″ of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 (e.g.,“Ultrasonic Surgical Handpiece for OR1”) and/or a serial number (e.g.“8809-01”), and a type 80′, 80″ of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16(e.g., “25 kHz Ultrasonic Aspirator”). In FIG. 5, the module 44identifies the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 as the 25 kHz ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16′. As such, the module 44 transmits the handpieceidentification signal 66 and the RFID emulator 46 transmits the maximumand minimum frequency 50′ and the maximum current 72′ of the drivesignal 12 for the 25 kHz ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16′ from thememory 48 to the control console 14. In other instances, the RFIDemulator 46 may transmit any data stored in the memory 48 to the controlconsole 14 based on the handpiece identification signal 66.Additionally, the memory 48 may include any other suitable data for theultrasonic surgical handpieces 16′, 16″. Furthermore, the memory mayalso include data for a variety of other suitable ultrasonic surgicalhandpieces 16.

The RFID emulator 46 is referred to as an “RFID emulator” because theRFID emulator 46 transmits data from the memory 48 to the controlconsole 14 via the connector 20 using an RFID protocol. For example, theRFID protocol may specify a number of bits for an RFID data transmissionand an encryption format for the RFID data transmitted to the controlconsole 14. In FIG. 1B, the RFID emulator 46 transmits the maximum andminimum frequency 50 from the memory 48 to the control console 14 viathe connector 20.

In other instances, the RFID device may include a device other than theRFID emulator 46. For example, the RFID device may be any devicesuitable for transmitting data from the memory 48 to the control console14 via the connector 20 using an RFID protocol. In one such example, theRFID device may include a radio-frequency (RF) reader (not shown) and anRFID tag (not shown) including the memory 48. In such an example, the RFreader receives a wireless RF signal from the RFID tag, the wireless RFsignal including data from the memory 48. The RF reader then transmitsthe data from the memory 48 to the control console 14 via the connector20 using an RFID protocol.

The adapter 10 may include a controller (not shown) configured to relaycommunication between the module, the RFID device, the receptacle 24,and/or the control console. For example, the module 44 and the RFIDemulator 46 may be coupled to the controller such that the module 44 maytransmit the handpiece presence signal 60 or the handpieceidentification signal 66 to the RFID emulator 46 via the controller.Similarly, the control console 14 may be coupled to the controller suchthat the RFID emulator 46 transmits the maximum and minimum frequency 50to the control console 14 via the controller. Likewise, the receptacle24 may be coupled to the controller such that the control console 14transmits the drive signal 12 to the receptacle 24 and ultimately to theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 via the controller.

The adapter 10 may receive AC power from the control console 14 via theconnector 20. As shown in FIG. 1B, the control console 14 may include aradio-frequency (RF) reader 86. The RF reader 86 may be configured totransmit electromagnetic signals to interrogate nearby passive RFdevices. The control console 14 may be configured to provide theelectromagnetic signals to the adapter 10 in the form of AC power viathe connector 20 upon the connector 20 being coupled to the receptacle22. In such instances, the adapter 10 may receive the AC power from theRF reader 86, which may then be received by the module 44 and the memory48 of the adapter 10.

The adapter 10 may also receive direct current (DC) power from thecontrol console 14 or from a battery. As previously described and asshown in FIGS. 1B and 6, the control console 14 may include the USB port32 configured to receive a USB connector 88. Additionally, the adapter10 may include a USB connector 88, shown in FIGS. 1B and 6, such thatthe adapter 10 receives DC power from the control console 14 upon theUSB connector 88 being coupled to the USB port 32. In such instances,the module 44 and the memory 48 of the adapter 10 may then receive theDC power.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a method of operating the ultrasonic surgicalsystem 18 of FIG. 1A is shown. The method includes a step 90 of couplingthe adapter 10 to the control console 14 via the connector 20; a step 92of coupling the adapter 10 to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16; astep 94 of detecting, by the module 44 of the adapter 10, the presenceof the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16; a step 96 of transmitting, bythe RFID emulator 46 of the adapter 10, a maximum and minimum frequency50 for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 to the controlconsole 14 via the connector 20 using an RFID protocol in response tothe module 44 detecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16; a step 98 of generating, by the control console 14, thedrive signal 12 based on the maximum and minimum frequency 50 fordriving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16; a step 100 of receiving,by the adapter 10, the drive signal 12 from the control console 14 viathe connector 20; and a step 102 of providing, by the adapter 10, thedrive signal 12 to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. The steps 90,92, 94, 96, 98, 100, and 102 are further shown in FIG. 1B.

Steps of the method described herein may be ordered in any suitableorder to operate the ultrasonic surgical system 18 to provide the drivesignal 12 to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. For example, in someinstances, the step 92 of coupling the adapter 10 to the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16 may occur before the step 90 of coupling theadapter 10 to the control console 14.

The step 94 of detecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16 is further shown in FIG. 7B. As previously described, themodule 44 may include the open circuit 54 (shown in FIG. 2), and theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 may include the electrical component 56(also shown in FIG. 2). In such instances, the step 94 includes a step104 of coupling the electrical component 56 to the open circuit 54.Additionally, the step 94 includes a step 106 of detecting the presenceof the electrical component 56 of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16.The steps 94, 104, and 106 are shown in FIG. 2, wherein the electricalcomponent 56 is coupled to the open circuit 54 and the output voltageV_(out) switches from 0V to 10V.

In FIG. 7B, the method further includes a step 108 of transmitting, bythe module 44, the handpiece presence signal 60 (shown in FIG. 4) to theRFID emulator 46. In some instances, during step 108, the module 44 maytransmit the handpiece presence signal 60 to the control console 14.

FIG. 7C illustrates an instance where the step 94 of detecting thepresence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 includes a step 110 ofidentifying, by the module 44, the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16. Insuch instances, the module 44 may include the open circuit 54 (shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B). Furthermore, in such instances, the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece 16 may include an electrical component. For example,in the instance of FIGS. 3A and 3B, wherein the module 44 is configuredto identify the 25 kHz ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16′ and/or the 34kHz ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16″, the 25 kHz and 34 kHz ultrasonicsurgical handpieces 16′, 16″ include a 1 kΩ resistor 62 and a 10 kΩresistor 64 as the electrical components 56′, 56″, respectively. In FIG.7C, the step 110 includes a step 112 of coupling the electricalcomponent 56′ or 56″ to the open circuit 54 of the module 44 and a step114 of identifying the electrical component 56′ or 56″. The steps 110,112, and 114 are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, wherein the electricalcomponent 56′ or 56″ is coupled to the open circuit 54 and the outputvoltage V_(out) switches from 0V to either 8.72V or 4.04V, based on theelectrical component 56′ or 56″ coupled to the open circuit 54, andconsequently, the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16′ or 16″ coupled tothe adapter 10.

In FIG. 7C, the method further includes a step 116 of transmitting, bythe module 44, the handpiece identification signal 66 (shown in FIG. 5)to the RFID emulator 46. In some instances, during step 116, the module44 may transmit the handpiece identification signal 66 to the controlconsole 14.

In the instance of FIG. 7D, the method further includes a step 118 oftransmitting, by the RFID emulator 46, at least one of a maximum current72 for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16, a maximum voltage74 for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16, and a capacitance76 of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 via the connector 20 usingthe RFID protocol in response to the module 44 detecting the presence ofthe ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 during step 94. The method alsoincludes a step 120 of generating the drive signal 12 based on at leastone of the maximum current 72 for driving the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16, the maximum voltage 74 for driving the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16, and the capacitance 76 of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece 16. Steps 94, 96, 118, and 120 are further illustrated in FIG.4, wherein the RFID emulator 46 transmits the maximum current 72 and themaximum and minimum frequency 50 from the memory 48 to the controlconsole 14 in response to receiving the handpiece presence signal 60,and the control console 14 generates the drive signal 12 based on themaximum current 72 and the maximum and minimum frequency 50.

FIG. 7E illustrates an instance where the method further includes a step122 of transmitting, by the RFID emulator 46 of the adapter 10,identification data 70 of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 from thememory 48 to the control console 14 via the connector 20 using the RFIDprotocol in response to the module 44 detecting the presence of theultrasonic surgical handpiece 16 during step 94. Steps 94 and 122 arefurther illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the RFID emulator 46 transmitsthe product name 78 from the memory 48 to the control console 14 inresponse to receiving the handpiece presence signal 60.

As previously stated, the adapter 10 may be configured to receive DCpower. In FIG. 7F, an instance where the method includes a step 126 ofreceiving DC power by the adapter 10 is shown. As shown, prior to step126, the method includes a step 124, wherein the adapter 10 is coupledto the USB port 32 of the control console 14. Step 124 is illustrated inFIG. 6, wherein the USB connector 88 of the adapter 10 is coupled to theUSB port 32. Thus, the adapter 10 receives DC power from the controlconsole 14.

As also previously stated, the adapter 10 may be configured to receiveAC power. In FIG. 7G, an instance where the method includes a step 128of receiving AC power by the adapter 10 is shown. In such an instance,the step 92 of coupling the adapter 10 to the control console 14includes a step 130 of coupling the adapter 10 to the RF reader 86 ofthe control console 14. As shown in FIG. 1B, the adapter 10 may becoupled to the RF reader 86 of the control console 14 by coupling theconnector 20 to the receptacle 22 of the control console 14. As such,during a step 132, the adapter 10 receives AC power from the RF reader86 of the control console 14. Step 132 is also further shown in FIG. 1B,wherein the RF reader 86 transmits AC power to the adapter 10 via theconnector 20.

It will be further appreciated that the terms “include,” “includes,” and“including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise,” “comprises,”and “comprising.”

Several examples have been discussed in the foregoing description.However, the examples discussed herein are not intended to be exhaustiveor limit the disclosure to any particular form. The terminology whichhas been used is intended to be in the nature of words of descriptionrather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations arepossible in light of the above teachings and the disclosure may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter configured to receive a drive signalfrom a control console and to provide the drive signal to an ultrasonicsurgical handpiece, the adapter comprising: a receptacle configured toreceive the ultrasonic surgical handpiece and provide the drive signalto the ultrasonic surgical handpiece; a connector configured to beinserted into a receptacle of the control console, wherein the connectoris configured to receive the drive signal from the control console whenthe connector is coupled to the control console; and a radio-frequencyidentification device coupled to the connector, wherein theradio-frequency identification device is coupled to a memory storing amaximum and minimum frequency for driving the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece, the radio-frequency identification device being configured totransmit the maximum and minimum frequency from the memory to thecontrol console via the connector using an RFID protocol.
 2. The adapterof claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a module configured to detecta presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece, and wherein theradio-frequency identification device is configured to transmit themaximum and minimum frequency from the memory to the control console inresponse to the module detecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece.
 3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the module comprises anopen circuit, the open circuit being configured to receive an electricalcomponent of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.
 4. The adapter of claim3, wherein the module is further configured to determine a presence ofthe ultrasonic surgical handpiece based on the open circuit receivingthe electrical component and to transmit a signal corresponding to thepresence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece to the radio-frequencyidentification device.
 5. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the module isfurther configured to identify the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.
 6. Theadapter of claim 5, wherein the module comprises an open circuit, theopen circuit being configured to receive an electrical component of theultrasonic surgical handpiece.
 7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein: themodule is further configured to determine an identity of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece based on the open circuit receiving the electricalcomponent and to transmit a signal corresponding to the identity of theultrasonic surgical handpiece to the radio-frequency identificationdevice; and the radio-frequency identification device is furtherconfigured to transmit the maximum and minimum frequency of theultrasonic surgical handpiece from the memory to the control console viathe connector using the RFID protocol in response to the moduleidentifying the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.
 8. The adapter of claim1, wherein the adapter is configured to receive direct current power. 9.The adapter of claim 2, wherein the connector is further defined as afirst connector and wherein the adapter is coupled to a USB port of thecontrol console via a second connector, such that the module and thememory of the adapter are configured to receive direct current powerfrom the USB port of the control console via the second connector. 10.The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to receivealternating current power.
 11. The adapter of claim 2, wherein theadapter is coupled to a radio-frequency reader of the control consolevia the connector, such that the module and the memory of the adapterare configured to receive alternating current power from theradio-frequency reader via the connector.
 12. The adapter of claim 1,wherein the memory further stores a capacitance of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece, a maximum current for driving the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece, and a maximum voltage for driving the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece, or combinations thereof.
 13. The adapter of claim 1,wherein the memory further stores identification data.
 14. The adapterof claim 13, wherein the identification data comprises at least one of aproduct name and a type of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.
 15. Amethod of operating a system for providing a drive signal to anultrasonic surgical handpiece, the system comprising the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece, a control console, and an adapter, the methodcomprising steps of: coupling the adapter to the control console via aconnector; coupling the adapter to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece;transmitting, by a radio-frequency identification device of the adapter,a maximum and minimum frequency for driving the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece to the control console via the connector using an RFIDprotocol; receiving, by the adapter, a drive signal from the controlconsole via the connector; and providing, by the adapter, the drivesignal to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising a step of generating, by the control console, thedrive signal based on the maximum and minimum frequency for driving theultrasonic surgical handpiece.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein themodule comprises an open circuit, such that the step of coupling themodule of the adapter to the ultrasonic surgical handpiece comprises astep of coupling an electrical component of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece to the open circuit, and further comprising a step ofdetecting a presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece comprisingdetecting the electrical component of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.18. The method of claim 15, wherein the module comprises an opencircuit, such that the step of coupling the module of the adapter to theultrasonic surgical handpiece comprises a step of coupling an electricalcomponent of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece to the open circuit; andwherein the method further comprises steps of: identifying, by themodule, the ultrasonic surgical handpiece by identifying the electricalcomponent of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece; and transmitting asignal corresponding to an identity of the ultrasonic surgical handpieceto the radio-frequency identification device.
 19. The method of claim15, further comprising steps of: transmitting, by the radio-frequencyidentification device, at least one of a maximum current for driving theultrasonic surgical handpiece, a maximum voltage for driving theultrasonic surgical handpiece, and a capacitance of the ultrasonicsurgical handpiece via the connector using the RFID protocol in responseto the module detecting the presence of the ultrasonic surgicalhandpiece; and generating the drive signal based on at least one of themaximum current for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece, themaximum voltage for driving the ultrasonic surgical handpiece, and thecapacitance of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising a step of transmitting, by theradio-frequency identification device of the adapter, identificationdata of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece to the control console via theconnector using the RFID protocol in response to the module detectingthe presence of the ultrasonic surgical handpiece.